1.Frankie's Live Bait & Marine
DNR license agent10680 South Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013
4.4 (282 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
- Fishing licenses
Bait Shops in Chisago City, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Twin Cities MetroChisago County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
Within a short drive of Chisago City you have Forest Lake and White Bear Lake; Forest Lake (about 7.5 miles) is where many people start. Those waters are known mostly for walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass, and walleye is what the regulars are chasing most weeks. Right now, in summer, leeches and nightcrawlers move fastest off the shelves, so grab them early on a Saturday. The nearest DNR public landing to the shops is Little Green Lake Public Water Access Site on Green, about 0.9 miles from Frankie's Live Bait & Marine. Below is one shop in and around Chisago City (it carries live bait), with what they sell and which waters sit nearest to the door. Most of these stops are family-run and happy to point you at the right lake for the week.
Lakes near Chisago City and what's biting
- Forest Lake · ~8 mi from Chisago CityLake guide →
- White Bear Lake · ~21 mi from Chisago CityLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie
This month at Chisago City-area lakes: bait by species
August in Minnesota. Seasons and bag limits change — the regulations page has the current rules.
| Species | Live bait to buy in August | Where to buy it |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Leeches, Nightcrawlers, Redtail chubsCrawler harnesses and leeches on deep structure; big chubs for trophy fish. | |
| Northern Pike | Sucker minnows, Large shinersSummer pike hit spoons and spinnerbaits, but a live sucker still wins on slow days. | |
| Crappie | Crappie minnows, WaxwormsSuspend a minnow over deep weed edges; waxies for finicky fish. | |
| Largemouth Bass | Nightcrawlers, Leeches, ShinersWacky-rigged crawlers and leeches under a bobber on weed edges; soft plastics do the rest. |
Bait & tackle shops in Chisago City
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Chisago City →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Chisago City — grab it on the way so you're not improvising at the landing:
Heads up: the links below are affiliate links — if you buy something we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change what we recommend. How we make money.
- Jig heads, 1/8–3/8 ozThe Minnesota walleye staple — tip with a minnow or leech.Shop at Amazon →
- Slip bobber kitLeech under a slip float on a reef — summer walleye 101.Shop at Amazon →
- Crawler harnesses / spinner rigsTroll a nightcrawler on deep structure in July and August.Shop at Amazon →
- 8 lb monofilament lineFresh line before the season — old mono loses jig-bite fish.Shop at Amazon →
- Wire or fluorocarbon leadersPike bite through mono. Every rig needs a leader.Shop at Amazon →
- Casting spoons (red/white, five of diamonds)Classic Minnesota pike hardware for weedlines.Shop at Amazon →
Public landings near Chisago City
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Little Green Lake Public Water Access Site — GreenDirections ↗
~0.9 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 13 trailer spaces
- South Lindstrom Lake Public Water Access Site — South LindstromDirections ↗
~1 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 docks · 48 trailer spaces
Chisago City bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Chisago City?
Chisago City has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Frankie's Live Bait & Marine. It carries live bait (minnows, leeches, nightcrawlers) in season. Hours shift early and late in the season, so a quick call before a dawn launch is worth it.
What bait works for walleye near Chisago City right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Chisago City, local shops usually recommend a jig tipped with a fathead or shiner minnow in spring, leeches and nightcrawlers on a live-bait rig through summer, and bigger redtail or sucker minnows once the water cools in fall. Ask at the counter what the fish have been taking that week — the answer changes with water temperature.
Do Chisago City bait shops sell fishing licenses?
Yes. Frankie's Live Bait & Marine is a Minnesota DNR electronic license agent, so you can buy a fishing license at the counter. You can also buy online from the DNR before you leave home.
Which lakes are closest to Chisago City?
The closest lakes on our site are Forest Lake (7.5 mi) and White Bear Lake (21.1 mi). Each has its own page with depth, species surveys and public access details, and every shop below lists the two nearest DNR public accesses.